Baboons are making monkeys out of the nature conservation officials sent to prevent them stealing from people, says Independent Democrats MP Joe McGluwa

McGluwa said a troop of about 200 baboons was responsible for “stealing [from] and terrorising pedestrians, motorists, truckers and customs officials” at the Beit Bridge post, the main South Africa-Zimbabwe border crossing point.

“These baboons have now become experts at opening people’s bags and stealing food from visitors,” he said.

In a parliamentary question earlier this year, McGluwa called on Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to say what steps her department would take to “remove and rehabilitate the baboons before the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament”.

The minister said the matter had been referred to the Limpopo department of economic development, environment and tourism. Sapa